Kemper Konnection Staff, Special to SOSA
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
WAVERLY — We all deserve to be celebrated, to be included, to be champions.
This was exactly the vision Roger Kemper had that started nearly 50 years ago, back in 1974.
Roger saw the need for a place to educate individuals with special needs. So with help from a few parents, he started a classroom with the Pike County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Roger’s vision and effort from current Pike DD President Larry Meredith led to the development of the Pike County Early Childhood and Family Center in Piketon, Ohio.
CREDIT: Presley Manson/SOSA
Students who reside in Pike County have a state-of-the-art facility that they can attend for education, special services and therapies — all because of Roger
Kemper.
To honor his legacy, the facility was renamed in 2023 to The Kemper Konnection, which has been serving families in Pike County since 2002. The student-to-staff ratio, combined with the small classroom sizes, allows students to succeed in their learning environment.
Our collaboration with local school districts allows us to offer a more holistic approach to their individual needs, as all educational related services are provided at the school, along with the support of the student’s home district.
We had a vision, a vision of these students being surrounded by hundreds of people, being cheered for, being lifted up and celebrated for the unique, wonderful human beings they are. It was a vision where they would be center stage with all eyes on them, and what better way to bring everyone together than athletics.
On Oct. 30, the CD Hawhee Gymnasium was electric, inspiring, special, fun, exciting, awesome … really no word can describe how a whole county came together to celebrate our county’s special athletes.
The Kemper Konnection WildKats, the Exceptional Tigers and the Little ‘Streaks took to the court as the community filled the stands to support their home teams. But that energy quickly shifted as the crowd found themselves cheering for every athlete that hit the floor.
There were no longer three teams competing, there was one team being celebrated.
The band was playing, cheerleaders were cheering, students were interacting, fans were on their feet and happy tears were falling from the parents of these children who were witnessing what was happening.
PHOTOS: Images from Wednesday’s game between the Kemper Konnection WildKats, Exceptional Tigers and the Little ‘Streaks
Roger’s vision was complete.
Coach Kage Alexander of the WildKats stated, “I’m just a young guy who loves sports. I love to compete and I love to win. I thought I would be teaching them about the game of basketball, but through this experience, they have taught me so much more. Each of the players are awesome in their own way. They have become some of my best friends. I am proud of my mom for putting this all together and I am so blessed that God gave me the opportunity to be a part of their lives and that He is
using me to help them feel included. This was a lot of fun & I can’t wait for next season.”
We would like to give special thanks to the PCBDD, the staff at The Kemper Konnection, Waverly City Schools and Piketon Schools, along with our sponsors, all persons and businesses who made donations throughout the season and the community for all your kindness, love and support.
We will see you next season. And remember, embrace each other’s uniqueness.
SPONSORED BY PERFECTION ONE COLLISION CENTER
